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`(No Model.) 1 l J. W. SWAYLES. Drag `Szwvrfor Cutting Snags. No.241,749. Patented Ma'y17,1 881.v

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

JOHN W. SWALES, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DRAG-SAW FOR 4ourTlNe sNAes.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,749, dated May 17,1881.

Application tiled August 17, 1880.

To all whom it may concern i Beit known that I, JOHN W. SwALEs, of thecity and county of San Francisco, in the State of California, have madeand invented anew and useful Drag-Saw for Cutting Snags Under Water; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the construction and operation of my said invention,reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

My invention has reference to a device for cutting oft' logs, snags, andother obstructions under water, and is. designed for use in clcar ingthe channel or the beds of rivers and navigable waters of such dangerousobstacles.

It consists in a novel construction of mechanism for grappling andattachingasaw frame and carriage to a log, snag, or similar obstruction,combined with means for operating the saw and applying it in proper'position'to the article to be cut, all as more particularly se forthhereinafter.

In the said drawing I have shown a general view of my improved machineand the mode of applying and operating it. i

lhe machine consists, essentially, of a frame, A, in which is arranged asaw-carriage, B, l1aving a reciprocating movement and also a slightvertical motion in the frame. The reciprocating movement I produce bythe crank c, crankshaft C, and chain or band extending up to andactuated by a driving pulley situated above water. The saw is secured tothe lower end of the reciprocating carriage B and works between theguides d d. It can be detached and replaced when it requires repairingor renewing.. The saw-carriage B, constructed preff erably of a heavyplate of metal, to give proper stability and even action Vto the saw, isheld in the frame A between guide-pieces E projecting from .the underside of the frame and inwardly under the carriage B supporting it 5 andthe part of the carriage that bears and works against these guides E maybe provided with friction-rollers let into recesses in the side of theplate, if required. The vertical movement of the carriage within itsframe is obtained both by the weight thereof and by the action of aspring, F, applied upon the (No model.)

top part of the carriage. The lower part of 5o the frame being securedto the log or snag when the machine is in operation, these parts holdthe saw down to its work and cause it to feed into the wood as fast asthe cutting progresses.

The frame, when at work, is held in a position more or less inclined, orelse vertically, above the log to be cut, and while its lower end isattached to a part of the log its upper end is kept in position byguy-ropes from the boat or other place where the power is located. rIhegrapple for making fast the lower end consists of a iixed hook, G,bolted to the side of the frame and projecting forward, and the pivotedjaw H, having a barb, t', to enter the wood. The rea-r end of this jawis carried back far enough to give sufficient leverage, and is connectedto an operating chain or line, J, extending up to the top ofthe water. Aspring, lc, serves to hold these jaws G H in open position to grapplewhen the frame A is lowered.

As thus constructed, my machine is applied from a boat, scow, or othersituation, and is readily held in position to the work required of it.It can be operated by hand-power or steam, and it furnishes a strong,simple, cheap, and effective means, particularly applicable to this kindof work and operation. Itis worked entirely from above the surface, andno divers or other expensive apparatus are reqluired to apply it.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In a machine for cutting and removing snags or other similarobstructions under water, the fra-me A, having the guides E, thereciprocating carriage B, having the saw and spring F, and the grapple H7c, with one arm connected to the frame A, and having a chain or rope,J,

attached to its other arm, in combination, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

Witness my hand and seal.

JOHN W. SWALES. [L. s] In presence of t WM. F. CLARK, EDWARD E. OsBoRN.

